Officer Killed in Shoot-Out at Restaurant

City flags were flying at half staff today after the fatal shooting of a veteran Los Angeles police detective killed in a gun battle with an ex-convict, who also died in the shoot-out in a Lake Hollywood restaurant.

Detective Russell Kuster, 50, on the force for 24 years, died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank at 10:24 p.m. Tuesday, less than an hour after he was shot, Lt. William Hall said.

Kuster was the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Station homicide squad.

The suspect, Bela Istvan Marco, 37, a native of Hungary who lived in Las Vegas, died at the scene. Marco was on parole for a narcotics violation.

Kuster was in the lounge of the Hilltop Hungarian Restaurant on Barham Boulevard about 9:30 p.m. when he noticed another patron arguing with the restaurant’s owner-manager, Jeno Bencze.

“The suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and was asked to leave by Bencze,” Lt. William Hall said.

The suspect left through the side door, but returned a few minutes later with a pistol, Hall said.

“Fearing the suspect was about to shoot, Kuster identified himself as a police officer, then drew his 9-millimeter pistol,” Officer Ralph Duncan said.

The gunman then turned toward Kuster and fired at least six rounds, police said.

“The suspect shot him. Although mortally wounded, Kuster shot back, the suspect fell to the floor and died,” Duncan said.

Others inside the restaurant were unharmed, Duncan said.